The death toll in terrorist acts in Upper Dangri village of Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri rose to six as another child succumbed to injuries from IED blast.
While four-year-old Vihan Sharma died in the IED blast on Monday morning, 16-year-old Samiksha Sharma was confirmed to have died on Monday evennig. The two of them were cousins.
Vihan and Samiksha died in IED blast that injured five others. The IED blast took place within 14 hours of terrorists' firing in the same village that killed four people. The IED was placed under a bag near the house of one of the victims of the firing incident on Sunday evening.
The deceased in the Sunday's attack have been identified as Satish Kumar (45), Deepak Kumar (23), Pritam Lal (57), and Shishu Pal (32). The blast took place near Pritam Lal's house.
The mortal remains of the six deceased were given a tearful farewell on Tuesday as they were cremated in village cremation grounds.
“The firing ended within 10 minutes. First, they attacked a house in Upper Dangri and then they moved 25 metres away and shot at several people there (at another house)," an official said, adding that they while fleeing the village fired on a third house.
Eyewitnesses said they resorted to heavy firing after confirming identity of civilians.
Outrage and grief over killings
The Dangri village and the surrounding region has been plunged in grief and anger as six people, including two children, were killed within 14 hours.
Hundreds of sobbing mourners including relatives, friends, and neighbours queued up with flowers and wreaths to pay their last respects to the mortal remains at the government school where the bodies were kept for the night.
There is particular outrage over the "security lapse" that led to Vihan and Samiksha's killings in the IED blasts. Locals have claimed that terrorists had planted the IED on Sunday itself after firing and killing four villagers. They alleged the IED was missed during the scanning by police and security officials who had cordoned off the area after the shootings on Sunday evening. The IED that security personnel could not detected, as per locals, exploded on Monday and killed the two children.
Village Sarpanch Deepak Kumar said that it was a serious security lapse on the part of police and other agencies.
"It is a serious security lapse by agencies. Minority community people do not feel secure. The administration should take tough measures," he told reporters in Rajouri.
The killings led led to protests across Rajouri district, including in Rajouri town, and a complete shutdown.
In Kishtwar district, a bandh was observed on Tuesday in protest against the attacks. Shops and business establishments remained closed and traffic was partially off the roads in the town.
"Sanatan Dharam Sabha gave a bandh call to protest against the killings. It was aimed to sensitise the government about the security and safety of the people," a leader of the organisation said.
In Jammu, protests against Pakistan were held by VHP, Bajrang Dal, Mission Statehood, Shiv Sena and Dogra Front.
The Rajouri killings marked a return of violence to Jammu region in which Rajouri falls, which has been relatively peaceful in recent years in contrast to the restive Kashmir Valley.
What have officials said over Rajouri killings?
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited the village on the demand of protesting locals who had refused to cremate the bodies.
Sinha announced on Monday night that a probe will be conducted into alleged "security lapse" and promised action on the basis of the report. He also said that the Village Defence Commitees (VDCs) will be strengthened immediately.
Sinha held a security review meeting with top officials in Rajouri and said "some people raised the issue of security lapses, an inquiry will be conducted to find out (whether there were any such lapses). On the basis of inquiry (action will be taken)".
"We have given full freedom to the security forces and I want to assure the people that the perpetrators of this attack will be punished soon. It is our firm resolve to crush terrorists and terror ecosystem," Sinha was quoted as saying during a meeting with local representatives and families of victims.
Sinha said that the army is also operating in the area. "We will try to have strong action in the days to come in this area", he said.
The government is determined to end the era of terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir and all support will be extended to the bereaved families, Sinha said.
J&K Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh, who visited the site, said that the IED blast was intended to target senior officers who were about to reach there. He announced that VDCs will now be revived and rearmed after some protesting leaders and locals claimed that the incidents could have been averted had the authorities not taken away the weapons of VDCs.
Sinha announced Rs 10 lakh ex-gratia and a government job to the next of kin of the deceased civilians.
The police said that locals have reported that two terrorists are involved in the attack.
Search operation ongoing, NIA to investigate attacks
Security forces, including the J&K Police and the Indian Army, launched a search operation following the Sunday's killings but no success so far has been reported.
"The cordon-and-search operation has been intensified. It was resumed this morning and additional troops have been inducted," a senior police officer told PTI on Monday.
On the hunt for the suspected terrorists, the officer said army, police, special operation group and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel are involved in the cordon-and-search operation. Drones and sniffer dogs have also been deployed, the officials said.
Officials have also said a team of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has reached Dangri village for an investigation
The focus on Village Defence Committees
Senior J&K Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former MLC Vibodh Gupta alleged that 60 per cent of the guns of VDCs have been taken back.
The VDCs were first set up in the mid-1990s in the Chenab Valley area of Jammu to arm and train villagers to defend against Pakistan-sponsored militants and comprise villagers as well as Special Police Officers (SPOs).
At the protest site, the DGP Singh said that the people of Rajouri have bravely fought terrorism in the past.
"I am sad over the killings. It is a matter of grief. It is time to give a boost to VDCs. No guns will be taken away..., if some guns have been taken away, they will be returned (to VDCs) and more guns will be provided if needed," said DGP Singh.
On Sunday's attack, Singh said two terrorists fired on three houses in which four people were killed and six injured. The condition of the injured is stable, he said.
(WIth PTI inputs)
